Tragedy struck in Plateau State on Friday night as gunmen killed 12 travellers from Basawa community in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims, who were travelling in an 18-seater bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, were en route Qua’an Pan Local Government Area to attend a wedding ceremony when they were ambushed around 8:00pm by a mob near Mangun community.
According to sources, 31 persons — including men, women, and children — were onboard when the vehicle veered off its route and unknowingly entered a volatile area.
Eleven of the travellers sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at the General Hospital, Mangu.
The Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, who confirmed the incident, said eight bodies have been recovered and deposited at the hospital, while security operatives were working to recover the remaining four.
“We were together with the chairman of Mangu LGA, and he has been very supportive in coordinating the response. We have asked security personnel to assist in recovering the remaining corpses,” Sheikh Haruna said.
‘They Surrounded Us and Began Attacking’
A survivor, Ibrahim Umar, recounted the horrific encounter:
“We were heading to Qua’an Pan for a wedding ceremony. Because we didn’t know the road well, we stopped to ask for directions. Suddenly, a mob surrounded us, shouting that we should be killed.
“They beat and attacked us with weapons. The driver was killed first. Then they began attacking others. They set the bus on fire with the dead bodies inside.”
Security sources confirmed that the bus was burnt with some of the corpses trapped inside.
Police React
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Plateau State Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, said the command is aware of the incident and would issue an official statement after preliminary investigations are concluded.
The killings come amid growing concern over communal tensions and reprisal attacks in the state, despite repeated government assurances to stem the tide of violence.
